Happy Birthday Caden...

Caden James turned 4 the day before Thanksgiving and since we have been crazy busy around here, I am late getting his birthday post done! We first got Caden when he was just 5 months old. He was a failure to thrive baby (aka drug baby) and we spent many days just holding him and trying to get him to calm down. All I have to say is that the vibrating bouncer chair was the only saving grace we had. It was been amazing to see the changes in this kid's life. We love you Caden James and are SOOO grateful Heavenly Father sent you to us!!

4 reason why we love our Caden boy...

#1 - He has the cutest little sense of humor!
#2 - For the most part Caden is a quiet boy who just minds his own business!
#3 - Very sensitive and worried about others.
#4 -Taden "lubs doughing to stool" and is trying really hard to learn how to say his 'C's and 'G's!

Attitude of Gratitude & Black Friday...

I first must take a moment to give Thanks for all that I have. What a blessed lady I am and have always been. My blessings started a long time ago when I was born into the amazing family that I belong to. I am Thankful for goodly parents who still never cease to amaze me. I am Thankful for brothers who taught me how to stick up for myself and to be a fighter (in a good way). I am Thankful for one amazing sister who has been an example of SOOO many ways. I am Thankful for my husband, my best friend, and my better half. Not sure how different my life would be if he hadn't been sent my way! I am Thankful for my 11 beautiful children. Each one brings something unique to our family, and I can't imagine my crazy life without them. I am Thankful for my freedoms, even if they are disappearing everyday. I am Thankful for the Gospel. I am Thankful for a living prophet. I am Thankful for a loving Heavenly Father that knows me and blesses my life in so many ways. And I am most Thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, who was the perfect example, and provided a way that I may have eternal life!!!

I am THANK FUL!!!!

Now switching gears a little...I experienced my FIRST BLACK FRIDAY EVER!! I was just telling a friend the other day how crazy I thought she was for going every year. We always go get Christmas Trees the day after Thanksgiving, but due to my parents Temple schedule we had to change it to Saturday. So after talking with a couple of my siblings at Thanksgiving breakfast yesterday, we decided to go try it (all of us being Black Friday Virgins)!! I have to admit that it was a lot of fun and that I will probably try it again!!!

Family Pic...

Here is our AWESOME family pic...



Lol...to see more go to my photography blog!!

Me & My Honey...

I had my mom take some family pictures for us today, and here are some of the ones of Brandon and I. I have to say that I like em a lot!!! I will post the family ones soon!

Gosh I like this guy!!

ALL I've got to say is....

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

(Yes that is me SCREAMING!!!)

Poor Amelia

Our poor little Amelia got 2nd degree burns on her hand last week. She went to pull a "cup o noodles" out of the microwave and it spilt backwards and burned her hand. I swear....if anything can go wrong, it ALWAYS happens to this little girl!! Good thing she is super brave and super tuff!!!!

Tis the Season...

YES!!! I made Brandon start putting up Christmas lights!! You are probably thinking...SO!, what's the big deal? But these pictures were taken on the 2nd of November:) I thought it was pretty funny that here we are putting up lights and there are still pumpkins in the pictures!! What can I say?...

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

So What Happens...

...after Paul goes to the Dentist?

THIS...

Sorry...I just had to share!

Happy Birthday Tristen

Is it truly possible for this kid to be 12?!!! I swear it just seems like yesterday that we got the call to take our very first foster child. We were told that he was up in the Show Low hospital and that as soon as he was released they would be bringing a 5 year old little boy that had been severely beaten to us. From the very first time we saw Tristen we fell in love with him. We loved his big ears, his blue eyes, and the hugs that he always gave us. From the very first night we got him he has called us mom and dad and has loved us as if we had ALWAYS been his parents. We sure are grateful that he came along and that he is ours FOREVER!!!

We Love you Tristen and hope you have a very Happy Birthday!!!

Here are 12 reasons why we love this kid SOOOO much!...

#1 - His hugs!...Always willing to share a hug with anyone!
#2 - His personality...he is a little on the gooberish side, but you won't find a sweeter kid in the world!
#3 - He LOVES to sing!...very seldomly will you see this kid around the house that he isn't singing!
#4 - He is VERY smart!
#5 - He is excited to recieve the Priesthood this Sunday
#6 - He is easy to please
#7 - Spontaneous...who else would walk over 2 miles to a friends house at 3:00 in the morning!
#8 - Good at the Piano and Bass...if you've ever been to one of his concerts you will notice he NEVER looks at his music, he always has it memorized!
#9 - His ears...how can you NOT love them?!
#10 - The first words out of his mouth when he walks through the door from school is..." Hi Mom! How was your day"
#11 - Loves watching TV...eventhough this usually drives me crazy since his eyes are GLUED to it, I still love watching him watch a show that makes him laugh.
#12 - His laugh and his pouty face!

40 years ago...

40 years ago today my mom gave birth to twin boys, Shane & Shaun. Not a November 4th goes by that I don't think about them. Eventhough they came 10 years before me, I still wonder what they would be like, who they would have married, who they would look like, etc. I look forward to the day when I can meet them and hang out with them. I have often wondered if they are our guardian angels and I know that they have been near to our family on a number of occasions! My mom had no idea she was even having twins until the day before she delivered them. This is the only picture she has of them. I think she looks beatiful!

Happy 40th Birthday Shane & Shaun!!